Thank You

I would be remiss if I did not say anything about Sec. Gates today. I have never met the man but greatly appreciated the way in which he brought greater accountability to the Department of Defense and provided leadership in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan while caring deeply for the men and women serving in our armed forces. The love he feels for the average sailor, soldier, airman, Marine and special operator is reciprocated. So let me just say thank you to the secretary and also to his wife -- for allowing such a great public servant to spend a few more years with us in Washington. Although Sec. Panetta seems well placed to steer the department into an era of greater austerity, the greater defense policy community will be poorer in the absence of his predecessor.